The boy, who appeared to be no older than 12, 13 at the oldest, jumped a little when Reveka said what she did, asked her question.

"Ah!" he exclaimed, looking at her.

"No!" he said.

"No! I have to... have to run...!" he said further, staggering to get to his feet again.

"She... she... no... no, please..." he begged, seeming to be delirious at the moment.

He then collapsed to his knees again, tears streaming down his cheeks.

He just nodded quickly.

"Y-yes. No. M-maybe. I d-don't know." he admitted.

"Mother... mother almost got me." he said.

"She... she was... she trapped me..." he went on.

"...." he was then silent, before a name escaped his lips.

"R-Rowena... Fyrane..."

"............" again, the boy was silent.

"Okay." he then said.

"....okay." he repeated, more quietly this time.

He then stood up again, though he looked ready to collapse again.

"....tired..." he mumbled.

"...hurt..." he said further, and she could tell he'd been having a rough go of it.

His clothes were torn and dirty, and he was covered with scrapes and cuts. The bags under his eyes proved that he hadn't been getting much sleep, either.

".........okay." the boy replied.

At this point, it seemed like he'd finally let his guard down some... or maybe he'd resigned himself to any fate he thought he had. Or maybe the exhaustion had finally caught up to him.

Regardless, he wasn't fighting anymore, and didn't seem to be visibly panicking.

"Do what you have to." he said.

"I'll... I'll be here."

Even though the plants she was using were a bit rough, and they stung, she saw that he barely reacted. He hardly even winced. The worse he did was close his eyes a little when the harsher plants were used.

Beyond that, he kept still.

He stayed perfectly still, except when she told him to do things, so she could reach awkward areas.

It seemed he was used to taking orders, and had briefly reverted back to some default 'obey' mode.

The boy was silent for a moment, before seeming to snap out of his little 'trance'.

"Huh?" he asked.

"Oh." he said.

"Really?" he asked her.

"Clean clothes?" he asked further.

When she nodded, he smiled softly.

"Thank you." he said, as he got up and looked around.

"Should I change here?" he asked.

The boy nodded.

"All right." he replied.

She then left and made her way back to where she was... and she was only waiting for a couple of minutes, before he returned, the clothes fitting him fairly well.

"Thank you again." he said.

"It's been a while since I wore clean clothes."

He was silent for a moment.

"Ashley." he said.

"My name is Ashley." he told her.

"And... and... uh..." he then stammered, thinking for another moment.

"Re... ri... r..." he stuttered, trying to pronounce her name.

"River-ka." he finally got out.

Ashley looked confused for a moment.

"Um... okay." he said.

He was then silent, before his stomach growled. Loudly.

"....heh." he chuckled sheepishly.

"I guess I am." he said.

"I haven't eaten in a few days." he then admitted.

Ashley nodded.

"I've had bear before." he told her.

"Had to kill one once, otherwise, I would be killed and deemed a failure." he said.

"And fruit salad?" he asked her.

"I really like fruit." he said with a smile.

"It's so sweet and tasty."